Heel protector



Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILFRED BARRETT, O F WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL PROTECTOR.

Application filed February 11, 1922. Serial No. 535,784.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILFRED BARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waltham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to protectors for heels of boots and shoes, and more particularly to protectors for rubber heels or top lifts.

The back edge of a rubber heel soon becomes worn down in use, thereby materially reducing the body of the heel and giving it an unsightly appearance. As a consequence, these rubber heels or top lifts soon must be discarded and new ones substituted therefor.

An aim and purpose of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a cheap, simple protector for the heel, which may be easily applied thereto and will materially prolong the life of the heel. Also, the construction is such that the protector has secure locking engagement with the heel.

With the aforesaid and other purposes in View, the character of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protector embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the form of the protector when died from sheet metal before the securing legs are bent down-to positionstransverse to the plane of the plate or head of the protector;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of protector; and

Fig. 4 is a section through a rubber lift equipped with the protector.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the protector shown therein as one good form of the invention, comprises a plate or member 1, in

the present instance, substantially circular in form. Projecting from said plate are a pair of holding legs having shanks 3, each provided with a head or fluke 5 having a sharp end 7, a pair of blunt lateral shoulders 9 extending transversely to the length of the leg, and inclined edges 11 extending from the sharp end 7 to the shoulders 9, said edges also being blunt.

The construction described may conveniently be died out of sheet steel or other appropriate metal, and then the legs 3 may be bent at their juncture with the plate 1 into positions transverse or perpendicular to said plate, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, the modified form of protector shown therein comprises a plate or member 13 which may be similar to the plate 1, referred to, of the first modification described. Projecting from said plate, in the present instance, centrally thereof, is a securing leg 15 having a head or fluke 17 which may be constructed in a manner similar to the heads 5 referred to, of the first described modification.

Referring to F ig. 4, for purposes of illustration, a rubber lift 19 is shown therein with the protector applied thereto. The

protector may be presented to the lift at the back marginal portion of the lower or tread face of the lift, or at another point as de sired. Then the protector may be pounded into the lift until the inner face of the plate 1. is brought into engagement with the tread face of the lift. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the sharp, blade-shaped entering edge 7 of each triangular fluke 5 is of a length not greater than the width of the shank 3, and that the length of the shank 3 between the shoulders 9 of the fluke and its juncture with the plate 1 is at least as long as the altitude of the truncated triangle forming the fluke. These proportions are of great importance because when the protector is pounded into the rubber lift, or heel, the sharpedge 7, which is shown as of chisel form, will then make an incision not greater in length than the width of the shank, and as the protector is forced inward the blunt edges 11 merely stretch the rubber outward, without increasing the length of the incision. The inward movement is so quick that almost immediately the stretched rubber has again expanded into engagement with the shank edges above the fluke, interlocking with the shoulders 9 and thus securely holding the protector in place. If the shank is too short this expansion cannot readily take place and the blunt ends of the flukes will hold the rubber stretched with, of course, decreased holding power. The above considerations apply to the form shown in Fig, 3 as well as the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably the proportions are as shown in the drawings and in use the protectors have been found to be very firmly Jan. 8, 1924.

- w. A. BJORNSTAD ET AL.

ELECTRIC OVEN FOR DENTAL. PURPOSES Fi led Spt; 15.1922

INVENTORS: w/llar-d @jornstad Rudolph A. Hene BY Wm M 54M 4 flrrofiwsvs 

